Privlege in the China Cabinet
“Oh, we'll just use paper plates.”
“We only use those dishes for special occasions”
“Don’t use the pretty towels those are just to look at.”
“If it can’t go in the dishwasher we don’t use it.”
“Those are for entertaining.”
This blessed culture. We’re surrounded by nice, quality goods yet we don’t use them. We keep waiting for a reason to indulge or have people over. We’re waiting for the right time. But the right time doesn’t just happen. Our culture is excessive but rarely do we use the resources we have available.
If you are an oddity like me you are in your 30’s and have a china cabinet to house fine china (my pattern is Lenox Lace Couture but Johnson Brother’s transfer ware will always have a place in my heart.) China wasn’t meant to just be admired: it was fired so it could be used.
In the new testament we hear the account of the parable of talents, you know, taking what we’ve been given and investing it to yield a return. Our china cabinet, the good towels, the real plates - they are meant to be used. They are meant to be an investment in our lives to yield a return. How often to we hold precious things and never share them? That’s taking advantage of the privlege we’ve been given.
The same goes for our spiritual gifts and callings. Yes we are made in the image of God but when we without the gifts we’ve been given then we’re sitting useless in a china cabinet - we’re burying our talents and not mulitplying them. It cost you nothing except decency and maybe a little bit of bravery to implement your gifts. The world is starving for a culture to be authentic. We NEED YOU to be the very best you and share your gifts and talents with us.
What treasures are you burying in your heart? The next time you make a cup of coffee or have guests over for dinner pull out the good china. Pull out the pretty plates, the napkins, set the table. Why? Because it’s a Tuesday and you want to make your friends feel extra special; by creating an atmosphere of elegance with what you’ve been given you’ll expand the heart of Yahweh. You’ll foster a relationship of honor. The same goes for your spiritual gifts. The next time you’re buying groceries look for an opportunity to demonstrate that gift - it will multiply.
Having a china cabinet full of dishes isn’t just meant to be admired - it’s meant to multiply.
“And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ " - Matthew 25:20